GAME AND FISH DEPT

Address:  5000 W CAREFREE HWY, PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85086

Hiring Salary Range: $56,098 - $80,000 

Grade: 24

Closing Date: 01/29/2023

The Statewide Sportfish Program Manager will execute statewide coordination of sportfish management including; management strategies by water, stocking strategies including species prioritization and allocations, monitoring strategies, collaboration with hatcheries and outside vendors, and statewide budget management, implementation planning, and reporting.

Major duties include:
-Supervises Community Fishing Program Coordinator.
-Works closely with the Regional Supervisors, Program Managers and the Community Fishing Program Coordinator to coordinate and oversee statewide sportfish management.
-Works with the hatchery program, Community Fishing Program, and regional programs on stocking requests, stocking schedules, and long-term fish stocking goals.
-Oversees sportfish program budgets, implementation plans, and reporting requirements.
-Lead for the Department’s Standard Fish Sampling Protocol manual, periodic revisions, and ensures compliance with the manual.
-Oversees cold and warm water visions and the development of water specific management plans.
-Coordinates and oversees the Commission Order process for fishing regulation changes and communication with the public.
-Co-lead on statewide environmental compliance development for sportfish stockings and the evaluation process.
-Coordinates and oversees periodic statewide angler surveys.
-Leads coordination for fishing access improvement projects.
-Develop strong working relationships with angling groups and clubs.
-Administers warm water fishing challenges, records fish contests and works on communications with the angling public.
-Serves periodically as acting Branch Chief on Department teams.
-Performs other duties as assigned.

The candidate will have knowledge in personnel management and supervision rules and regulations; interpersonal relations techniques; strategic planning processes and application; budget administration, development, monitoring & amendment procedures; evaluating staffing needs; federal, state and local agency roles and functions relative to wildlife management and environmental issues; knowledge of lakes, streams, rivers, fish and aquatic wildlife resources; Southwest ecosystems; fisheries biology, ecology, application of management and conservation principles and concepts; frog and snake biology, ecology and management; fisheries investigation techniques and collection procedures; scientific and agency grammar and writing techniques; vehicle, watercraft and miscellaneous equipment operation, safety and maintenance; environmental compliance procedures and application; NEPA, ESA, mitigation development and reporting and Endangered Species Act regulations and policies with an emphasis on Sections 7, 9 and 10.

Candidates will be skilled in fact assessment and complex/technical/administrative decision-making, oral, verbal and written communications, coordination, organization, leadership outreach, critical thinking and negotiation, project planning and execution, work management and leadership and time management, data gathering, applying standardized sampling techniques and fishery/general aquatic wildlife management and research principles, and techniques in field and laboratory setting, and perform statistical analysis, evaluation and interpretation; applying wildlife and habitat management techniques; evaluating effectiveness of management actions and adapting to constantly changing priorities and work assignments.

The candidate will be able to adapt to changing priorities and work assignments, identify and translate priorities into action through directed resource deployment, negotiate, facilitate, work well with others while motivating and leading others, organize, plan for and coordinate complex projects involving multiple stakeholders (internal and external), critically and evaluate actions and make sound judgements and decisions, work independently or in a group environment to solve problems and make recommendations and decisions regarding controversial or high profile issues, demonstrate leadership.

The candidate must have a Bachelors of Science and/or Masters degree in Wildlife Sciences or related field.

Employment may be contingent upon completion of a post-offer medical/physical examination and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

Position requires possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.).

All newly hired employees will be subject to the E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification program.

Arizona State Government is an EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Sick leave
Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
Health and dental insurance
Retirement plan
Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Amy Lacy at alacy@azgfd.gov for assistance.